President Obama Hopes 'Cosmos' TV Reboot Inspires Next Generation of Scientists

[Buster's Uncle]

President Obama Hopes 'Cosmos' TV Reboot Inspires Next Generation of Scientists (Video)
SPACE.com
by Miriam Kramer, Staff Writer  22 hours ago


Carl Sagan standing with hands on globes of planets. Undated file photo.


Even the president of the United States is into the new "Cosmos."

President Barack Obama introduced the new TV series "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" last night (March 9) during the FOX premiere of the new show, a reboot of Carl Sagan's original "Cosmos" series.

"America has always been a nation of fearless explorers who dream bigger and reach farther than others imagine," Obama said during his introduction. "That's the spirit of discovery that Carl Sagan captured in the original 'Cosmos.' Today, we're doing everything we can to bring that same sense of possibility to a new generation because there are new frontiers to explore and we need Americans eager to explore them. There are no limits. So, open your eyes, and open your imagination.

The first episode of "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" kicked off the 13-episode season with a sweeping overview of the history of time as told using a "cosmic calendar." The show uses animation to bring scientific history to life. Sunday's episode paid homage to Sagan's unique brand of science education through subtle and overt references to the late astronomer's legacy. Neil deGrasse Tyson (the new host of "Cosmos") even explained that Sagan changed his life with a touching story at the end of the show about how they met.



Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts the new show "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" on FOX. He is seen here in his ship of the imagination.


"I already knew I wanted to be a scientist, but that afternoon, I learned from Carl the kind of person I wanted to become," Tyson said of his visit to Sagan's lab at Cornell University in upstate New York. "He reached out to me and to countless others, inspiring so many of us to study, teach and do science. Science is a cooperative enterprise spanning the generations."

Tyson was just in Washington D.C. with Obama for the first ever White House student film festival. Actor and Obama Administration employee Kal Penn, TV personality and CEO of the Planetary Society Bill Nye, and Tyson hosted the film festival at the White House.

The new "Cosmos" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Fox. You can catch a replay of the premiere today (March 10) on National Geographic at 10 p.m. ET/PT.


http://news.yahoo.com/president-obama-hopes-cosmos-tv-reboot-inspires-next-212133349.html

[Valka]

So has anyone been watching the new Cosmos?

[Buster's Uncle]

I watch almost no TV at all while I'm in Texas - which, I'm happy to report, is only through Friday...

[Valka]

So does that mean you'll be watching Cosmos next Sunday?

[Buster's Uncle]

It might.

Who doesn't love Neil DeGrassi Jr. High Tyson?

[Valka]

I'm of an older generation who thinks he's okay... but no Carl Sagan. That said, there have been lots of lovely little homages to Sagan sprinkled throughout the episodes so far.

[Buster's Uncle]

You're two years older than me and Sagan is not popularizing any science lately.  I have room in my heart for him, Neil, and Bill Nye the Science Guy, too.

[Valka]

I guess it's what one is used to. I've hardly watched any TV in the last 10 years, other than soaps and reality TV - and that's when I even had a working TV. So this new Cosmos is an unusual event for me, especially as I don't even get a lot of the channels that Tyson's other shows were on (I did catch a few of them now and then).

[Buster's Uncle]

Spud is still outracing the Enterprise, BTW...

[Buster's Uncle]

And I have seen some of the new Cosmos now.  The cartoons kinda suck, and they're the science history part - alas, the part I'd benefit more from, 'cause the science is pretty entry-level...

[Valka]

You would not believe how many people at TrekBBS have vilified me because I loathe those abominable cartoons.

Somehow last week that translated into "Oh noes, Timewalker hates Patrick Stewart!!!" (he did the voice of William Herschel)

[Buster's Uncle]

Seems like there's a bunch of tools at TrekBBS.

[Valka]

There are about 10-12 people on my ignore list there, for various reasons, including a couple of the pro authors, who seem to think that because they get paid to write stories, that makes them an authority on everything.

Basically, what I'd posted was along the lines of "more of those dumb cartoons instead of live actors - and then hearing Patrick Stewart's voice took me completely out of the scene instead of being able to pay attention to what was being said" (about the properties of light).

That translated into "wow, you hate Patrick Stewart, you don't get that he's an ACTOR, how DARE he take any job but Picard!"

[Buster's Uncle]

Don't they know that SPUD'S WINNING THE RACE?

[Valka]

Okay, next time I argue with one of them, I'll tell them that "You think I'm wrong just because... but at least when it comes to my Spud on a scooter, he can outrun a starship!"

And then at least 6 people will tell me to "F*** off, you twit."